Two-pedal coaster



Feb. 28, 1933. A. N. COOPER TWO-PEDAL COASTER Filed Aug. 27, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l JZZerZ/K mp r ATTOR N EY A. N. COOPER TWO-PEDAL COASTER Feb. 28, 1933.

ATTORNEY atented Feb. 28, I933 UNITED STATES- PATENT was,

ALBERT n. COOPER, or SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR To JESSE A. mecxiiir, or v PLACENTIA, oAmronm TWO-PEDAL CQASTER Application filed August'27, 1931. Serial No. 559,791.

My invention relates to atwo pedal coaster, and it consists in the constructions, varrangements and combinations herein described and claimed I l It is an object of the invention to provide a two pedal coaster of novel construction in which the pedal members function'to support the operator, as well asestablishing means for rotating the drive wheel of the coaster. a a

It is a still further object of the invention to'provide a new and novel drive means of such construction as to be readily incorporated within the hub member of the drive wheel, yet employing separate driving connections with the treadle members. a

A still further objectof the invention is to provide a novel pedal-operated brake 1 means for controllin the speed of the coaster,

the braking action eing evenly distributed upon opposite sides-.ofthe drive wheel, and thereby avoiding unbalance of the coaster during a braking operation.

Additional objects, advantages and features of invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a coaster cons ructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a top planview thereof;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section on 3-3 ofFig.1; 1 a

7 Fig.4 is a cross section on the line 44 of F ig.'3, illustrating the drive connection between one of the pedal members and the drive the line Fig. 5is a cross section on the line 5-5 Fig. 3; and Fig. 6 is a cross section on the lme 66 of Fig.4. 7

In carrying out my invention I provide a frame 10 having a droppedmedial portion 11, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The frame 10,

m the present'instance, is formed from a a single strap of heavy gauge metal, bent substantially into U-shaped formatiom as viewed in top plan (see Fig.2), the portions 12 defining the bight portion thereof, being bent inwardlyat an angle to one another, to define :a bearing 13. The. bearing'13 is positioned 'leysagainst the hub, since the wheel 25 should a be freely revolubleuponthetru'nnions. i

in the longitudinal center of the fame, and)" upon this hearing I pivotally mountgthe fork 14, by means of the ears 15 and pintle 16. v

tegrally withthe fork 14 or otherwise, permits steering Of the wheel 17, as will be readily understood. l

The portions 12 0f the frame have an arcua'te shape conforming to the periphery of the; wheel 17 but are spaced a suitable distance The-fork 14 revolubly mounts the front 1 wheel 17, and a, handle bar-18 formed indisposed arms 20. The arms 20 are apertured,

as at 21, to receive an axle 22, which is maintained against rotation by, nuts 2324. and

bind upon opposite sides of respective arms 20 A drive wheel 25 is revolubly supported upon the axle 22. The wheel 25 includes a hub; 26, in respective ends of which there, are loosely and oscillatably mounted pulleys 27 28. i As clearly shown in Fig, 3, each pulley 27 -28 includesa pair of annular spaced flanges 29 and between respective pairs of ranges, I secure flexible strap members 30+- 31-, the purpose of which will be explained more fully' hereinafter. V V v 1 q, v Each pulley 2728 has a trunnion 32 j ournalled in respective ends of the hub 26, and

eachpulley has an axial bore 33 receiving the I axle 22 therethrough. In order to secure the pulleys 27-28 in proper relation to the hub of the wheel 25, the shaft 22 is preferably provided with screw threads immediately outward of that-portion of the shaft occupied by respective pulleys 27- 28, for reception of nuts 34. x

From the foregoing,,it will be seen that the wheel 25 isrevolubly;journalledv upon IT the trunnions 32.. -"In'adjustin g the pulleys 27 28,within the, hub 26, care should be taken to see that the nuts 34 do not. bind the pul-, 1

and in each recess there is pivotally mounted a pawl 38. With the pulleys assembled withi in the hub 26, the pawls 38 occupy a position 'as readily understood.

so as to be swung into engagement with the I ratchet teeth 36. .This action will be more fully dealt with in the description ofthe operation of the coaster.

' p In order to malntain the pulleys 27-28 "in a normal position, a heavyhelical spring 39 isprovided, one end thereof being anchored in the outer flange 29, as at 40, (see Fig. 6) while the other end of the spring may v be anchored to the nut 34, as indicated. at 41.

A mud guard42 is supported by a suitable frame 43, asat 44, this guard protecting'the operator against splashings of water or mud,

A pair 'of treadle members 4546 is provided, rockably mounted at their forward ends upon a rod 47. The treadles 4546 extend rearwardly within the frame 10, and as seen in Fig. 2, the inner longitudinal edges are cut away, as at 48, to accommodate the.

rear wheel rand-associated mud guard 42. Therear extremities of the treadles 4546 stop short of the hub 26 and upon their under sides there is secured a downwardly extend- 'ing lug48. Each lug includes a pintle 50, to which the free end of each respective 30,31'- is secured.

- The straps '3031 may be wound several times around their respective drums, or a single turn therearound, as shown in Fig. 4, 'will be-sufiicient and in any event the straps 30, 31 extend from the upper portion of the drums downwardly toward the lugs 48. Thus a downward pressure of the treadles -46 will readily oscillate the pulleys 27 28.

- The wheels 17 and 25 are'shown as of the disk type and may include rubber tires or otherwise, as desired. i

Attention is now invitedto Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings,for an understanding of my brake'construction, which I have generally indicated at 51. A cross rod 52 is secured intermediate the lengthof the side members 19 and uponthisrod there is rockably mountbers 45'.46'are in spaced relation to one 7 another, the foot pedal 53may move backwardly and forwardlyin the space provided therebetw-een. :Immediately to the rear of the rod 52', a flat bar 54 is secured, extending across the spacedefined'by theside bars 19.

'The bar 54 is bent intermediate its length to provide an upstanding bearing 54*, which as clearly shownin Fig. 2 is disposed be- '-support of brake'levers 55.

strap.

tween the cut away portions 48 of the treadles 45-46. Thus the treadles may move upwardly upon respective sides of the'bearings 54 and the horizontal portions 54 serve as stop members and limit the downward movements of the treadles. 1

The bearing 54 is centrally apertured for The levers 55 are crossed, as clearly shown inFig. 2 and pivoted upon a common pivot 56. Thelevers project beyond the pivot 56 and are suitably apertured; for connection of a cable 57, which is made fast to the foot levers 51. The arms 55 are curved. slightly outward and thence inwardlyso as to embrace the rim .of. the

wheel, and terminate in brake shoes58. he

shoes 58 are adapted to frictionallycontact the disks 59 ofth'e wheel 25when the pedal 53 is depressed. It will benoted that by this construction an even braking action upon the wheel 25 will obtain, and thus avoid liability of throwing the operator on" balance. The operation will be readily understood from the following description:

The operator will grasp the handle bar 18, and usuallyjwill propel the coaster by pushing the same for a short distance and then jump upon thetreadles 45,46,' one foot being positioned upon each ofthe treadles. The weight the rear end thereof to swing downwardly drawing. downwardly upon the strap 30.

When the strap 30 is thus drawn, it will be of the operator is'then-alternatelyshifted seen-that the pulley 27 will be rotated. in a forwardly direction, and inasmuch as the A pawls sswiu be thrown outwardly by centrifugal force, into engagement with the ratchet teeth 36 of the hub of the wheel, a

rotation of the wheel 25 will be effected. At

the time that thepulley 27 is'eifectingthe drive to the wheel 25, the pulley 28 is being oscillated rearwardly'by the spring 39 which was tensioned during thedownwa'rd movement of the treadle 46. It will be clearly :seen that in the reverse movement of the I pulleys-2728, the treadles 45-46 willbe:

ed a. foot pedal 53 Since the treadle man. 1 returned to their normal raised P on From the foregoing it will be clearly apin accordance with rapidity of depression of the treadles. Itwill also'be apparent th'atthe :parent that alternate depression of the treaidles 4 5j-'46 will impart rotation" ofthedriv'e wheel 25 and'the speed ofthe'coaster will be 54. In this position of the treadles, the wheel 25 rotates freely of the pawls 38.

While I have shown and described a pre- 7 ferred form of the invention, it should be understood that I do not confine myself to the exact structure disclosed, and consider as my own all such modifications, as fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim 1. In a coaster, a frame having a steering wheel and a drive wheel, said drive wheel having a hollow cylindrical hub, counter-sunk annular ratchet members in the bore of said hub near the ends thereof, an axle mounted in said frame and extending through the hub, pulleys oscillatably mounted upon said axle adjacent the respective ends of said hub, each 7 pulley including a trunnion forming a hearing for said hub and for spacing said hub from said axle, a plurality of pawl members pivotally mounted on said trunnions for operative connection with respective ratchet members in one direction of oscillation of said pulley members, a flexible strap member encircling and secured to each pulley, treadle members rockably mounted upon said frame at their forward ends and having their rear ends secured to the respective strap members, and spring means for'returning the pedal members to their raised position. 2. In a coaster, a frame having a steering wheel and a drive wheel, said drive wheel having a hollow cylindrical hub, counter-sunk annular ratchet members in the bore of said hub near the ends thereof, an axle mounted in said frame and extending through the hub, pulleys oscillatably mounted upon said axle adjacent the respective ends of said hub, each pulley including a trunnion forming a 40 bearing for said hub and for spacing said hub from said axle, a plurality of pawl members pivotally mounted on said trunnions for operative connection with respective ratchet members in one direction of oscillation of said pulley members, a flexible strap member encircling and secured to each pulley, a pair of treadle members rookably mounted upon said frame at their forward ends, a downwardly extending lug secured to each treadle member at its rear end, means for connecting the straps with the respective lugs, said connecting means being at or below the central axis of the axle in any position of the treadle, and spring means for returning the pedals to their raised position. I

ALBERT N. COOPER. 

